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Fact is, this theory is under attack (Evolution Revolution Alert)
Baltimoresun.com ^ | 5 Feb 2005 | Arthur Hirsch

Posted on 02/05/2005 11:37:51 AM PST by gobucks

ELKTON - Charles Darwin and his intellectual descendants have taken a lashing here lately.

With the Cecil County Board of Education about to vote on a new high school biology textbook, some school board members are asking whether students should be taught that the theory of evolution, a fundamental tenet of modern science, falls short of explaining how life on Earth took shape.

*snip*

The politically conservative county of about 90,000 people bordering Pennsylvania and Delaware is joining communities around the country that are publicly stirring this stew of science, education and faith.

*snip*

At the Board of Education's regular monthly meeting Feb. 14, the five voting board members are scheduled to decide whether to accept the new edition of the book and might discuss Herold's call for new anti-evolution materials in addition to the book.

*snip*

The consensus in mainstream science, represented in such organizations as the National Academy of Sciences, the American Institute of Biological Sciences, the Smithsonian Institution and the American Museum of Natural History, was, in effect, captured in 31 pages of text and illustrations published in November in National Geographic magazine. In big red letters, the magazine cover asks: "WAS DARWIN WRONG?" In bigger letters inside, the answer is: "NO. The evidence for Evolution is overwhelming."

*snip*

Joel Cracraft, immediate past president of the American Institute of Biological Sciences, compared the scientific agreement on evolutionary theory to "the Earth revolving around the sun."

*snip*

Then there's the matter of teaching the meaning and method of good science.

"The issue is science," Roberts said. "What is science, and, if there's a conflicting view, does it meet the rigor of science we're seeking?"

(Excerpt) Read more at baltimoresun.com ...


TOPICS: Crime/Corruption; Politics/Elections
KEYWORDS: darwin; education; evolution; god
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To: gobucks
You seem to be arguing that referencing ethics to a point outside of people is irrational.

No, that is incorrect. My reference point outside of people is existence vs oblivion. The former is of inherent value whereas the latter is by definition the absence of value. Anything that ultimately promotes the former is preferred over whatever results in the latter. Then, the corollary is quality of existence (which itself promotes the duration and durability of existence). The rest follows.

One might also think of it as survival vs extinction - although that is a (very large) subset of the ultimate dichotomy.

261 posted on 02/05/2005 6:16:07 PM PST by AntiGuv (™)
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To: AntiGuv

After all, this is a crevo thread.


262 posted on 02/05/2005 6:17:19 PM PST by furball4paws ("These are Microbes."... "You have crobes?" BC)
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To: furball4paws

Yes, I meant only concepts, ideas, values, etc. That's why I posted the clarification when I realized how my preceding comment was misphrased.


263 posted on 02/05/2005 6:17:41 PM PST by AntiGuv (™)
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To: BLASTER 14; Dataman
The main difference between theologians and scientists is that scientists change their theories when new facts become available. Theologians have their minds made up and don't want to confused by the facts

Congratulations on uttering THE most achingly ignorant statement I've heard all day.

But then, it's been a quiet day.

Dan
Biblical Christianity web site
Why I Am (Still) a Christian
Biblical Christianity BLOG

264 posted on 02/05/2005 6:18:05 PM PST by BibChr ("...behold, they have rejected the word of the LORD, so what wisdom is in them?" [Jer. 8:9])
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To: From many - one.
The cataloging and taxonomy of stars, as I understand, has less gaping gaps and more consistency than that of the fossil and geological record. Yet there would be no scathing and brutal complaints from the astronomical community if a school board forced a "stellar evolution models are just theories" notice in astronomy books. For that's all any reputable scientist takes them to be.
265 posted on 02/05/2005 6:21:08 PM PST by bvw
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To: AntiGuv

I checked out your home page and your Permanent Ignore List. Surprise, the only one on my list is also on yours too. It was a most painful and adolescent experience that led me to that conclusion.


266 posted on 02/05/2005 6:25:57 PM PST by furball4paws ("These are Microbes."... "You have crobes?" BC)
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To: PatrickHenry
You are hereby offically declared a evo-Cardinal in Evo-Holy Church. No heresy too small for your evo-Holy Inquisition. Darwinian evolution can only survive as the most brutally enforced dogma, eh?

Yes. We are wrong to call it a "theory" -- it is Holy Dogma!

Beg forgive us sinners, Your Most Holy Person, beg forgive us!

267 posted on 02/05/2005 6:27:15 PM PST by bvw
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To: gobucks

"I am suggesting however, that sexaul license without limitations is indeed what is at stake in the entire fight."


Good grief. The more we are like animals, the more we can be trusted to follow biological rules appropriate for our species: wolves and geese for instance are monogamous and faithful. They don't need any type of religion for that. Why do we?


268 posted on 02/05/2005 6:28:28 PM PST by From many - one. (formerly e p1uribus unum)
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To: Dimensio; jocon307

The Holy Orders are out in force tonite. Bow before your better, jocon307! Or face the rack!


269 posted on 02/05/2005 6:29:02 PM PST by bvw
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To: Dimensio
evolution is a change in alelle frequency over time

Then do you have a phase-space transform for it, a Lagrangian, a Fourier, whatever? You are such a pouffant. You must be the most well-dressed of the evo-Cardinals. Is your Worhip's Iron-Maiden painted pink?

270 posted on 02/05/2005 6:36:45 PM PST by bvw
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To: bvw

Yes. We fanatical evo-nazis are out in force, engaging in the horrible, inexcusable practice of correcting factual errors uttered by creationists.


271 posted on 02/05/2005 6:37:00 PM PST by Dimensio (http://angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif <-- required reading before you use your next apostrophe!)
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To: bvw
Then do you have a phase-space transform for it, a Lagrangian, a Fourier, whatever? You are such a pouffant. You must be the most well-dressed of the evo-Cardinals. Is your Worhip's Iron-Maiden painted pink?

Do you actually have an argument to make, or are you just going to rant on with inane babble?
272 posted on 02/05/2005 6:37:33 PM PST by Dimensio (http://angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif <-- required reading before you use your next apostrophe!)
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To: From many - one.
If you truly believe effects have cause, here's my effects question for you. Be the True Detective and infer the cause.

You are in a room with a man who tosses fifty coins in the air. They land on a table. You obsevre the coins on the table. They are all heads up. What's on the other side -- the hidden face of the coins? What is the cause?

273 posted on 02/05/2005 6:41:54 PM PST by bvw
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To: FastCoyote

We well-schooled modern scientists examined the garbage dump behind a long-dead potter's shop and infered that the pots had evolved over many years. The clear improvemnt in pot design and complexity in each higher strata proved it. While some few thought it strange that we did ot not encounter a pot in the process of evolving, however the cold hard fact is that Pot Evolution is a well proved, undeiable fact to our scientific community. Only fools deny it.


274 posted on 02/05/2005 6:49:10 PM PST by bvw
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To: Dimensio

You just wait and keep re-reading that. It will evolve to suit your Holiness, I am sure of it!


275 posted on 02/05/2005 6:50:23 PM PST by bvw
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To: bvw
We well-schooled modern scientists examined the garbage dump behind a long-dead potter's shop and infered that the pots had evolved over many years. The clear improvemnt in pot design and complexity in each higher strata proved it

It never ceases to amaze me how many creationists inject this type of invalid analogy (pots -- as well as the variety of other artifacts that they use in these types of comparisons -- do not make imperfect copies of themselves as living organisms do) no matter how often it is thoroughly explained why it is invalid.
276 posted on 02/05/2005 6:51:30 PM PST by Dimensio (http://angryflower.com/bobsqu.gif <-- required reading before you use your next apostrophe!)
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To: gobucks

" From an evolutionary point of view, abortion on demand for convenience is a defendable position."

That isn't true.An atheist evolutionist would certainly argue that those who practise abortion on demand would be less likely to survive under all but the most dire circumstances and would therefore be eliminated from the gene pool.

An evolutionist with a belief in God would be unlikely to argue for humans to destroy themselves.


277 posted on 02/05/2005 6:51:43 PM PST by FastCoyote
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To: ValenB4
I just showed you how evolutionary theory tends to go against moral licentiousness - based on the biological advantages of human altruism and cooperation. But those aren't my ideas. Richard Dawkins, Jared Diamond and others write about that.

Sexual licentiousness is a by product of civilization and is something to be addressed on its own. Transfering what is repugnant about the left and cultural and moral relativism onto evolution is not going to work. On the contrary, evolution is cultural absolutism - there is a correct way to do things - as we see when societies that engage in widespread improper conduct decline in their productivity and creativity.

Again I salute you for what, in a bygone day, would be presumed to be 'common sense'. Today you have my, and I suspect many lurkers', respect - for whatever that's worth.

278 posted on 02/05/2005 6:53:50 PM PST by balrog666 (A myth by any other name is still inane.)
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To: Dimensio

Begging forgiveness your Holiness, I am dumb before the light of the Holy evo-Dogma. Do not burn my family at the stake, please!


279 posted on 02/05/2005 6:54:14 PM PST by bvw
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To: bvw; From many - one.

LOL, I already bowed, to from many - one, he was very cool about it!


280 posted on 02/05/2005 6:54:43 PM PST by jocon307 (Vote George Washington for the #1 spot)
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